Detroit Tigers: Has Javier Báez turned over a new leaf

Detroit Tigers Javier Báez is turning over a new leaf.

The Detroit Tigers have not gotten the absolute best performance out of Javier Báez since he has joined the Tigers. However, they are hoping that Báez will live up to his 6-year, $140 million contract, as he is in his second season in Detroit right now.

Earlier this season, the Detroit Tigers benched Javier Báez for a mental mistake on the basepaths, and since he has returned, things have been great for the right-handed hitter. He has been able to get the bat working and settle back in, in terms of his performance, really doing a job.

For the Tigers, they have to be hoping for more out of Báez. His numbers were absolutely abysmal early in this season, but he has been able to get back on track and find his performance a bit. Báez has rescued things and brought his stats back on track.

Báez turned over a new leaf and really has been performing better overall. The stats have bounced back a bit, and Báez is now hitting .230/.279/.316 with seven doubles and three home runs to add 26 RBI to his credit as well.

He has been seeing the ball better and has dug himself back out of the slump he had to start the season, really starting to turn over a new leaf and improve his performance. In fact, Scott Harris seemed to feel this was an excellent way for Báez to take the reigns and help get the ship moving in the right direction.

Harris deemed that Báez was able to set the tone for the entire team with his bounce back after the benching, as well as the way in which he handled the benching. Again that comes with what the media saw, but Báez has done a bang-up job of turning things around.

I'll be the first to admit I have been a critic of Báez and still do not love the signing. Frankly, I would not be mad if he moved on from the Tigers after 2023. But, in terms of what he has done performance-wise in 2023, he has been able to get things moving back in the right direction, which is important.

The team is still clinging to life in the second spot in the American League (AL) Central Division, so Báez figuring it out has only helped them get to this point. It also helps them try to continue getting more out of the team when Báez is firing on all cylinders.

Hopefully, their shortstop can continue to play well and be a big piece of the puzzle as the team navigates its 2023 season.